Ford page 2

Ford page 2 by ric gustafson


Henry Ford had a simple vision for his company ' I will build a car for the great multitude'. Henry Ford started his company in June of 1903. Ford started his vision with the Model T a simple no nonsense car. It came out in October of 1908 and cost $ 850. The car was nicknamed the Tin Lizzie and to make them fast Ford started the first moving assembly line. Ford shocked the world in January of 1914 when he said that he would pay his workers $5 a day in wages. Mass production allowed Ford to cut costs and boost efficiency. By 1925, the price of a Model T was only $ 260 but sales of the popular car were slipping. In 1921, Ford's market share was 61.5 percent but General Motors was closing in fast.
In 1927, Ford started working on the Model A but it was too late. General Motors became the top automaker. By 1929, two million Model A's were being sold and Ford again was at the top of the heap. Ford also came out with a V-8 motor that was a hit with the public.
Only after World War Two did Ford diversify it's product lineup. In 1985, Ford introduced the Taurus which was a sedan with rounded corners and tighter suspension. In 1992, the Taurus became the bestselling car in America. In 1997, Toyota's Camry took over that honor.


research help: ' American Icon' by Bryce G Hoffman


Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric